58 pages • 1 hour read
Hello Beautiful
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summary and Study Guide
Overview
Introduction
Hello Beautiful is American author Ann Napolitano’s fourth novel. Hello Beautiful was an instant New York Times bestseller and was selected as an Oprah’s Book Club Pick. It has been praised by critics and readers for its homage to Louisa May Alcott’s novel Little Women. Her earlier novel, Dear Edward (2020), has been adapted into a television series by Apple TV+, and was named one of the Best Books of the Year by The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and Amazon.
This guide uses the 2023 Dial Press edition.
Content Warning: The guide and novel contain discussions of mental illness and death by suicide.
Plot Summary
The novel opens with the birth of William Waters in 1960 and chronicles his lonely childhood. Only days after his birth, his sister dies, leaving his parents bereft and emotionally withdrawn. Because of this, William is emotionally neglected and begins to suffer from depression. He finds solace through basketball, which allows him to finally feel connected to other people without having to share his emotions. After graduation, he attends Northwestern University on a sports scholarship, and there he meets the vibrant and ambitious Unlock all 58 pages of this Study Guide Plus, gain access to 8,900+ more expert-written Study Guides. Including features:
Related Titles
By Ann Napolitano
